Levesque Denies Quebec Seeks Recognition by Arabs

July 3, 1979

MONTREAL (Jul. 2)

Premier Rene Levesque of Quebec has disavowed any intention of seeking some form of diplomatic recognition for his province by the Arab states in the event they offered it to retaliate for the Ottawa government’s promise to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

Replying to questions at a press conference several days ago, Levesque said: “There could be no question of Quebec accepting such recognition should the Arabs offer it to protest Canada’s recent decision to move its Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.” He said the idea of Quebec being recognized as a “sovereign state” by the Arab world is a “balloon blown up out of proportion.”

Levesque said the province is eager to open an office somewhere in the Middle East to handle commercial, cultural and immigration exchanges but emphasized that it cannot yet seek recognition as an independent state. “Right now, Quebec is part of Canada and therefore we would need authorized permission just to open a delegation in the Middle East.” he said.

There will be no Bulletin dated July 4 due to Independence Day. a postal holiday.